These Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies are the latest addition to my healthy cookie recipe collection. Yes, it’s true, I have a bazillion gluten-free, grain-free chocolate chip cookie recipes. There are three primary reasons for this.

First, I’ve been writing grain-free recipes since my son was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2001, which, lucky for those of you on the Paleo diet means that all of those chocolate chip cookie recipes are not only gluten-free, they’re grain-free too. Second, even though I too went on the grain-free diet in 2001, my eating plan has continued to evolve. I started out using grapeseed oil, then switched to palm oil, and now I’m a big believer in grass fed butter (which Sally Fallon discusses in the video below). Finally, I’ve never met a recipe I couldn’t improve upon, even my own.

I have collected all of these Paleo cookie recipes that use a variety of grain-free ingredients on my Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes page. If you are faced with a bunch of different dietary restrictions, be sure to check out my collection of grain-free chocolate chip cookie recipes! As I mentioned, all of them are gluten-free, grain-free, and for the most part Paleo –though Paleo is such a loaded word since so many people define it so differently.

I know folks that consider rice a Paleo food, and although it’s certainly gluten-free, that’s an item I haven’t eaten since I started the grain-free diet in 2001. Most people on the Paleo diet eat potatoes, another food that makes me incredibly ill, and that I strictly avoid. All in all, many people now view the Paleo diet with some flexibility and as a customizable personal eating plan –I know I do.

To put it simply, I eat food that makes me feel good, it just so happens that all of that food is grain-free. We’re all bio-chemical individuals and need to listen to our own bodies. That’s why I have a variety of healthy chocolate chip cookie recipes, something for everyone. For more Paleo dessert recipes, check out my Paleo Desserts page, of course all of the recipes over there are gluten-free desserts as well!

This version of my homemade chocolate chip cookies is my husband’s favorite. Whenever I make cookies now, as he grabs one, he’ll ask, “are these the ones with butter?” Well, by golly, yes, they are! So if you’re wondering how to make Paleo chocolate chip cookies, give these a go. Your guests will never know they’re anything but melt in your mouth delicious.

Scoop dough one level tablespoon at a time onto a parchment lined baking sheet

Press balls of dough down gently

Bake at 350° for 7-10 minutes

Cool for 15 minutes (do not handle prior or cookies will break)

Serve

3.3.3077

We had a fantastic party earlier this week in order to celebrate the end of my son’s baseball season. The team came in second in the state of Colorado, and are an incredibly determined, passionate, lovely group of guys. Strange, now that my son is almost 17, I can no longer say “group of boys.” These young men have tremendous character and I was thrilled to host them all, along with their families in our beautiful new home. The night of the party I chronicled some of the festivities over on Instagram.

I was happy to find that these Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies were the hit of the party, and not just a hit with my husband. I served them with organic vanilla ice cream, and they were enjoyed by the adults and players alike.

I also served my sugar-free Strawberry Lemonade, which was a surprise hit. I didn’t think people on regular diets would appreciate it as much as I do, but it was guzzled by one and all. Other than the amazing people we had over, my favorite part of this summer party was the “beverage stand” that I created. I used one of my old antique tables and set it up with all kinds of fun rustic items. Here’s a photo of the drink station, in case you’d like to take a peek at it. If I get enough requests, I’ll do a full post on how to set up an ecologically sound drink station at a summer gathering or barbecue.

In the meantime, I hope you all enjoy these homemade chocolate chip cookies as much as we do! Just the smell of them baking will fill your house with cheer.

]]>http://elanaspantry.com/paleo-chocolate-chip-cookies/feed/16Strawberry Lemonadehttp://elanaspantry.com/strawberry-lemonade/
http://elanaspantry.com/strawberry-lemonade/#commentsFri, 24 Jul 2015 16:14:41 +0000http://elanaspantry.com/?p=204308This refreshing sugar-free Strawberry Lemonade is a favorite around my house on a hot summer day. I’ve been making homemade lemonade for the boys since they were wee little ones. In order to cut back on the amount of unnecessary sugar (including natural sweeteners) that my family consumes, I’ve been sweetening my homemade lemonade withRead More →

This refreshing sugar-free Strawberry Lemonade is a favorite around my house on a hot summer day. I’ve been making homemade lemonade for the boys since they were wee little ones. In order to cut back on the amount of unnecessary sugar (including natural sweeteners) that my family consumes, I’ve been sweetening my homemade lemonade with stevia for as long as I can remember.

The boys like this drink so much that they asked me to teach them how to make strawberry lemonade so they could do it on their own. It’s simple. All you really need to do is make lemonade and add sliced strawberries. That’s it! I hope you enjoy this homemade lemonade recipe as much as we do!

Now you know how to make lemonade! This lemonade recipe is incredibly versatile. You can substitute the fruit and turn sugar-free strawberry lemonade into raspberry lemonade, or cherry lemonade. I don’t drink alcohol, but I think that an adult lemonade might be delicious if you spiked it with a bit of organic vodka. I just might serve homemade vodka lemonade at our next party.

See my How to Juice a Lemon post to speed up your lemon juicing process! What kind, or flavor of lemonade will you make? What will you use to sweeten it?

]]>http://elanaspantry.com/strawberry-lemonade/feed/11Iced Dandelion Mochahttp://elanaspantry.com/iced-dandelion-mocha/
http://elanaspantry.com/iced-dandelion-mocha/#commentsMon, 13 Jul 2015 16:55:03 +0000http://elanaspantry.com/?p=195684By now you all know that I’m a huge fan of Dandelion Root Coffee. I’ve been consuming this incredibly delicious, detoxifying drink since the 1990’s. Dandelion root coffee is a fantastic coffee replacement for several reasons. First, it’s an amazing herbal tonic that helps to detoxify the liver, second, it does not contain caffeine. For moreRead More →

By now you all know that I’m a huge fan of Dandelion Root Coffee. I’ve been consuming this incredibly delicious, detoxifying drink since the 1990’s. Dandelion root coffee is a fantastic coffee replacement for several reasons. First, it’s an amazing herbal tonic that helps to detoxify the liver, second, it does not contain caffeine. For more information on why I don’t drink coffee, or caffeinated beverages, such as tea (including black, white, or green) see my 5 Reasons to Give Up Coffee post.

Like regular coffee drinkers, sometimes on a sizzling summer day I’ll drink my dandelion coffee boiling-hot in a big mug. Other times though, I want a Starbuck’s type of icy drink, though one that’s caffeine-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. That’s when I make my Iced Dandelion Mocha.

I’ve made this drink with heavy cream in place of the coconut milk and it was amazing. In terms of sweetening your Iced Dandelion Mocha, you can use a few drops of stevia. I imagine this delicious caffeine-free coffee would also taste incredible with honey or maple syrup in place of the stevia. If you do use one of those sweeteners, be sure to add it to the coffee when it’s hot, so that it fully dissolves and doesn’t swirl around uselessly on the bottom of your drink.

Dandelion root coffee is fairly bitter like regular coffee. Back in the 1990’s my Ayurvedic teachers used to tell us, “bitter is better for pitta (the fiery constitution).” This is because according to Ayurveda the bitter flavor is considered cooling. So summer (the pitta season) is a great time to drink dandelion coffee. Now here’s a healthy coffee you can feel good about drinking!

]]>http://elanaspantry.com/iced-dandelion-mocha/feed/14The Year in Reviewhttp://elanaspantry.com/year-review/
http://elanaspantry.com/year-review/#commentsWed, 31 Dec 2014 18:51:21 +0000http://elanaspantry.com/?p=194934This year was full of surprises. Not the type that I was expecting. At all. As I mentioned in my “When Things Fall Apart” post, the traffic on this website, Elana’s Pantry, skyrocketed to over 900,000 unique monthly visitors, which was a good thing. Unfortunately, I had not scaled the site for such a highRead More →

This year was full of surprises. Not the type that I was expecting. At all. As I mentioned in my “When Things Fall Apart” post, the traffic on this website, Elana’s Pantry, skyrocketed to over 900,000 unique monthly visitors, which was a good thing. Unfortunately, I had not scaled the site for such a high volume of traffic and so it crashed. And crashed. And crashed. Which was not a good thing.

I did not handle the stress well at all, taking it into my body, and by May of 2014 I experienced the first MS attack since the one that occurred in 2006 when I was diagnosed with this disease. I don’t often discuss living with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis, as it is something I make an effort not to think about. This keeps my nervous system calm, and I’m happier, which is healthier for myself and my family.

Living with a major condition like MS is far different than dealing with a digestive disorder such as celiac disease. An autoimmune disease of the digestive system is incredibly damaging, an autoimmune disease of the brain and central nervous system (CNS) is something else altogether that can affect the function of each and every part of the body. Many things broke this spring, and I spent time in hand therapy, pelvic floor therapy and vision therapy, all on top of my regular physical therapy.

Generally, my family and I grieve over these types of tiny tragedies privately. We have processed this all year long as a family in various ways –sometimes through discussion and at other times silently. I did not write about this MS attack sooner as I wanted to give my family time to grieve, feel their own fears, and process this situation. I also felt the need to digest this experience prior to sharing it. This strange and complicated event took me a long time to sort though. I still am parsing it and making meaning from it. Now, strangely, I am stronger. Perhaps not emotionally. I’m still scared, and just a tad traumatized. I had compartmentalized the MS into the year 2006, the year of my diagnosis. This year, somehow the genie was let out of the bottle. That is frightening. However, I am stronger physically. I can walk farther and my core is stronger. I am more flexible. I am healing. I am living and breathing and thankful. Interestingly, my faith is stronger too. Prayer has been my pillar in these times. So often we think of prayer as asking for what we want. My prayers this year have been of gratitude for everything I have, this acceptance too has made me stronger.

Of course, my healing plan has been more critical than ever. I’ve made sure to get extra rest. I cut carbs out of my diet –no more cookies or fruit (ok, blueberries once in a while). Lots more fat, vegetables, and protein! My blood work is better than ever. The doctors are amazed. The drugs I took helped me. And yes, I took drugs. When you face the choice of going the medical route or ending up in a wheelchair the decision is a simple one. If you are uneasy with my choice that’s ok, sometimes I am too. I wish I could tell you that my diet saved my life. It didn’t. Unfortunately, my life isn’t that linear. It took a lot to get me sick, and it has taken a lot for me to get well. Life is complex. At least my life, with MS is.

Healing has so many different forms for me –an amazingly clean diet, loads of sleep (8 hours per night minimum), various forms of physical therapy, prayer, and drugs. And when it comes to drugs, I can tell you, try everything you can before taking them, but do not resist them entirely. Not because it makes you more “successful” in your healing process, but because the drugs you take will work much better and you will need to take much less of them, and have far fewer side effects resulting in less quality of life issues. And when you take drugs, take them with love and a prayer. If your body is open to them and the healing they provide, their positive effects will work more deeply. Your blessing, buy-in, positive thinking, and openness are everything no matter which remedy, or remedies you choose. Sleep, exercise, food, or drugs –whatever you choose to do, do it with love!

Although I cancelled many activities that had been scheduled this year in order to take the time I needed to heal, I did keep one crucial commitment –a trip to Spain with our children. Part of the issue with being a parent and having a major health condition is showing up. You and your family will deal with a life of surprises and inconsistency. When dealing with a major, chronic illness, you can’t always be there, you can’t make it to every school play and activity. Being sick can make you unreliable. Some children adapt to this very well, others not so much. For my children, who have grown up with me in compromised health throughout their entire lives, I felt that taking a two week family trip was very important, something we hadn’t done before. We were all somewhat nervous about my taking the trip. Thankfully, with some very smart planning (a less than fast paced vacation) the trip turned out ok.

The photo above was taken of us in Barcelona at Gaudi’sSagrada Familia church. So much of my healing comes from my faith. Mosques, temples, churches and other holy places of prayer are imbued with a special energy that I find inexplicably beautiful and healing. We spent much time in these types of places while in Spain.

I guess the biggest lesson I learned in 2014 was to take care of myself and do so with a gentle patience and loving kindness. I’m hoping that 2015 is a little easier, perhaps even a little smoother, but with my faith stronger than ever, I’m ready to face whatever comes my way.

]]>http://elanaspantry.com/year-review/feed/104Reduce, Reuse and Recycle During the Holidayshttp://elanaspantry.com/reduce-reuse-recycle-holidays/
http://elanaspantry.com/reduce-reuse-recycle-holidays/#commentsMon, 22 Dec 2014 18:11:01 +0000http://elanaspantry.com/?p=56561I love the holidays. I find it especially rewarding to slow down when everything around me is speeding up. I love going for long walks on the empty streets of our neighborhood when the malls are packed, or wandering on trails in the woods with the (almost) silent sound of wind whistling in my ears.Read More →

I love the holidays. I find it especially rewarding to slow down when everything around me is speeding up. I love going for long walks on the empty streets of our neighborhood when the malls are packed, or wandering on trails in the woods with the (almost) silent sound of wind whistling in my ears.

I’m not a total grinch though! I love giving gifts to friends, family, and non-profit organizations, and I enjoy getting into the holiday spirit on a concrete level, not just an ethereal one. Much like other aspects of my life, I have re-engineered the gift giving process and created my own unique ways of doing so.

As you can see in the photo above, rather than packaging gifts in expensive new wrapping paper that will go into the trash heap and straight to the landfill, I like to cover gifts in newspaper (that I’ve read), giving it a second use. I enshrine this reused newsprint with a big, beautiful, piece of ribbon. After consumption, the newspaper can be recycled and the ribbon can be saved for another use. I’ve wrapped gifts this way for years and decided it’s about time that I share this money saving process with y’all!

The gift depicted above is for a very dear friend. The recipient will remain a mystery, but I will reveal the contents of these packages. The bottom box contains a re-furbished vitamix, the top box, one of my favorite books, The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England.

Here are some of my tips and tricks to help you reduce, reuse and recycle during the holidays, so that we can protect the planet we are so lucky to live on, while we celebrate!

If you don’t enjoy making things, go to a local craft fair to purchase hand made foods and other goods and support local artisans.

Give used items such as books, or if you’re looking for clothing or high end gifts, investigate gently used merchandise on TheRealReal.com or a local consignment store (I shop at Common Threads which has locations in Boulder and Denver).

Give the gift of your time by offering a massage, babysitting, walking your neighbor’s dog, or gardening for them.

Give a monetary gift to charity, or offer to do an afternoon of service in honor of a friend or loved one.

The boys know that I don’t like to waste and they regularly wrap gifts to me in newsprint! As you can see, when I purchase envelopes, I buy them in this plain naturally colored shade that does not contain artificial dyes or bleach.

How do you conserve during the holidays? What tips do you have for all of us? Please leave a comment and let us know!

]]>http://elanaspantry.com/reduce-reuse-recycle-holidays/feed/1610 Hot Drinks to Keep You Warm this Winterhttp://elanaspantry.com/10-hot-drinks-to-keep-you-warm-this-winter/
http://elanaspantry.com/10-hot-drinks-to-keep-you-warm-this-winter/#commentsThu, 27 Nov 2014 23:59:24 +0000http://www.elanaspantry.com/?p=49263Is it cold outside? Well guess what folks –I have 10 hot drinks to keep you warm this winter! These delicious hot healing beverages will heat you up from the inside out. I like to sit by a window and watch the snow fall with one of these nice hot drinks in my hand toRead More →

Is it cold outside? Well guess what folks –I have 10 hot drinks to keep you warm this winter! These delicious hot healing beverages will heat you up from the inside out. I like to sit by a window and watch the snow fall with one of these nice hot drinks in my hand to keep me extra cozy.

With warming spices such as cinnamon and ginger, you’ll find these hot drinks nourishing and restorative. The warming spices in them also happen to be full of antioxidants to help you stave off a cold or the flu. I have everything from spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate to soothing Ginger Licorice Tea to keep you from getting chilled.

Stay hydrated and warm in this wacky weather and enjoy a hot cup o’ something good! Here’s 10 hot drinks to keep you warm this winter!

10 Hot Drinks to Keep You Warm this Winter

With everything from dairy-free White Hot Chocolate to a low-sugar Hot Apple Cider, you’ll love my 10 Hot Drinks to Keep You Warm this Winter! If you’re looking for a good winter cocktail recipe, feel free to spike these warming drinks with your favorite rum, brandy, or mulled wine! Sure, these non-alcoholic drink recipes are probably healthier when they’re not full of alcohol, but they’re a great healthy base if you want to celebrate and party it up a bit! So here’s some cheers to nice warm winter cocktails!

Do you have a favorite hot drink that’s not on this list that you would like to see me Elana-ify, and make healthier? Leave a comment and let me know!

]]>http://elanaspantry.com/10-hot-drinks-to-keep-you-warm-this-winter/feed/710 Paleo Thanksgiving Dessert Recipeshttp://elanaspantry.com/10-paleo-thanksgiving-dessert-recipes/
http://elanaspantry.com/10-paleo-thanksgiving-dessert-recipes/#commentsFri, 21 Nov 2014 23:03:58 +0000http://www.elanaspantry.com/?p=48949Since I started this blog in 2006 I’ve created tons of easy dessert recipes. Dessert is my favorite part of any meal. Since Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, I figured what could be better than dessert recipes for Thanksgiving? Only one thing —Paleo Thanksgiving dessert recipes! These Paleo dessert recipes are perfect forRead More →

Since I started this blog in 2006 I’ve created tons of easy dessert recipes. Dessert is my favorite part of any meal. Since Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, I figured what could be better than dessert recipes for Thanksgiving? Only one thing —Paleo Thanksgiving dessert recipes!

These Paleo dessert recipes are perfect for after Thanksgiving dinner and will round out your Thanksgiving menu because while they look stunning and impressive on your table, they are actually easy recipes. The superstar dessert of the ones below has to be my Chocolate Pecan Pie –people have told me that it is better than regular (i.e., wheat-filled) pie!

If you need festive, healthy, easy Thanksgiving recipes look no further, I’ve got you covered here with my 10 Paleo Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes which will help you make this glorious holiday just a little sweeter.

When I think of Thanksgiving I can hardly contain myself. A holiday dedicated to giving thanks? That is amazing! Fantastic that we get to spend a day with family and friends in the kitchen contemplating that which we are thankful for, that which makes us happy? What an incredible day.

This year, I’m happy and thankful for more than ever. I hope that while you take a look at my 10 Paleo Dessert Recipes for Thanksgiving and ponder which one(s) you’ll make, that you’ll also take a moment to leave a comment letting me know what you’re thankful for this year. If you’re so thankful that you are moved to help others that are not as fortunate, take a look at one of my favorite books that is an incredible guide to giving —Half the Sky. Happy Thanksgiving!

]]>http://elanaspantry.com/10-paleo-thanksgiving-dessert-recipes/feed/6Red Kuri Squashhttp://elanaspantry.com/red-kuri-squash/
http://elanaspantry.com/red-kuri-squash/#commentsTue, 28 Oct 2014 10:10:09 +0000http://elanaspantry.com/?p=56235Red kuri squash (also referred to as kari squash), is a brightly colored orange winter squash. It looks like a small teardrop shaped pumpkin without the thick ridges. It is part of the Hokkaido pumpkin family. If you’re wondering how to do holiday baking with fresh pumpkin, this is for you! This year I’ve fallenRead More →

Red kuri squash (also referred to as kari squash), is a brightly colored orange winter squash. It looks like a small teardrop shaped pumpkin without the thick ridges. It is part of the Hokkaido pumpkin family. If you’re wondering how to do holiday baking with fresh pumpkin, this is for you!

This year I’ve fallen in love with red kuri squash. First, its flavor is incredible. The flesh of this squash is slightly sweet with a hint of rich nuttiness, and the texture is rich and smooth. I have a roulette issue when buying pumpkins and winter squash –often I get one that’s incredible and yet other times I choose a squash that is bland and not moist enough. Although I’m fairly experienced at choosing (and growing) produce (my parents had a vegetable garden in the backyard during my childhood –talk about farm to table!), I still haven’t perfected the process of selecting the ideal winter squash or pumpkin.

Red kuri squash, however, is a game changer. I haven’t been disappointed yet, they’re perfect!

In addition to its wonderful flavor, I find the color of red kuri squash very pleasing. Its beautiful bright orange skin becomes soft when cooked and I blend it into all of my pumpkin pies, muffins, and breads right along with the meaty flesh inside. This winter squash is perfect for fall baking. Now, all of my holiday baked goods have a gorgeous, vibrant orange hue.

Of course, all winter squash and pumpkins are very healthy, and red kuri is no exception. Red kuri squash is a fantastic source of fiber. It also contains a good amount of vitamin A and vitamin C, beta carotene, B vitamins, calcium, and potassium. If you need to count calories, red kuri is low in calories, and full of good nutrients, making it a win-win food all around.

]]>http://elanaspantry.com/red-kuri-squash/feed/110 Paleo Pumpkin Recipeshttp://elanaspantry.com/10-paleo-pumpkin-recipes/
http://elanaspantry.com/10-paleo-pumpkin-recipes/#commentsWed, 22 Oct 2014 10:00:39 +0000http://elanaspantry.com/?p=55677When I think of fall, I think of pumpkins. That’s why I put together the below list of my favorite 10 Paleo Pumpkin Recipes. With everything from a Paleo Pumpkin Bars to Paleo Pumpkin Pie, you’ll love these healthy pumpkin recipes! As for me? I can’t help but smile when I look at a brightRead More →

When I think of fall, I think of pumpkins. That’s why I put together the below list of my favorite 10 Paleo Pumpkin Recipes. With everything from a Paleo Pumpkin Bars to Paleo Pumpkin Pie, you’ll love these healthy pumpkin recipes! As for me? I can’t help but smile when I look at a bright orange pumpkin. When I’m baking with one? I’m even happier.

I love the rich, nutty flavor, and soft, meaty flesh of freshly baked pumpkins and winter squash. If you’re a regular reader of Elana’s Pantry, then you know that I prefer to use freshly baked pumpkin in my pumpkin recipes, rather than [canned pumpkin]. Although I’ve used it in a couple of the recipes below, I don’t always test my pumpkin recipes using canned pumpkin, so can’t say that it will work universally in these healthy pumpkin recipes. Although canned pumpkin can be more convenient, I don’t think its flavor stands up to the rich goodness that is freshly baked pumpkin.

Did you know that pumpkin is a type of winter squash? I commonly swap out butternut squash, acorn squash, or red kuri in place of pie pumpkin. In fact, I think the aforementioned winter squash are even tastier than pie pumpkins, and I often find that they are a bit sweeter. You can use butternut squash, acorn squash, or red kuri in any of the Paleo Pumpkin recipes below.

Each week during the fall I bake a couple of winter squash, allow them to cool, then stuff them into glass mason jars, and store them in the fridge for convenience. This baked winter squash usually keeps for about five days. That way I have freshly baked squash at the ready when the boys ask me to make them some Pumpkin Bread Pudding, or if I’m jonesing for a healthy pumpkin spice latte.

What’s your favorite healthy pumpkin recipe? What are you looking for that’s not on the above list? Leave a comment and let me know!

]]>http://elanaspantry.com/10-paleo-pumpkin-recipes/feed/4Favorite Passover Ingredientshttp://elanaspantry.com/favorite-passover-ingredients/
http://elanaspantry.com/favorite-passover-ingredients/#commentsSat, 12 Apr 2014 18:06:28 +0000http://www.elanaspantry.com/?p=52347Over the years many of you have asked for a list of my favorite Passover ingredients. Well here you go –a rundown of the products that will make your grain-free Passover a breeze. These are the items I have come to depend on for making my Passover Seders since 1998 –the year I was diagnosedRead More →

Over the years many of you have asked for a list of my favorite Passover ingredients. Well here you go –a rundown of the products that will make your grain-free Passover a breeze.

These are the items I have come to depend on for making my Passover Seders since 1998 –the year I was diagnosed with celiac disease. Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve had gluten, or chametz for that matter! I’ve been kosher for Pesach for close to two decades straight, and I’m happy to share with you the wisdom and experience I’ve gained during that time.

Almond Flour
This might be my all time favorite Passover ingredient. I use almond flour to make Matzo, Matzo Balls and many desserts that are Kosher for Pesach. Almond flour is a fantastic year round choice instead of wheat flour, or chametz, and during Passover I look at it as my gluten-free matzo meal.

Coconut Flour
I use coconut flour in my Egg-Free Macaroons and many other baked goods that are kosher for Passover. It’s a staple in my kitchen all year round.

Horseradish
Although you can purchase prepared bottled horseradish, I do love buying the whole root fresh and making my own Maror which is incredibly spicy and pungent. For purple Maror try my Beet Maror recipe.

Palm Shortening
Another great pareve ingredient for the Passover meal, palm shortening is dairy-free, yet rich and creamy like butter. I use Spectrum brand palm shortening which is an ethically and sustainably sourced product.

Chicken Stock
There’s nothing like homemade chicken stock to cure a cold or serve with matzo balls –so check out my Homemade Chicken Stock recipe! Avoid store bought chicken stock as it can be filled with MSG and certain ingredients that masquerade as healthy, yet contain MSG which can cause headaches and lead to neurological disorders.

Matzo
I’ve created a matzo recipe for you that is a fantastic vehicle for Maror and Charoset (hello Hillel sandwich, however, it’s not as light and crispy as traditional matzo since it’s made from almond flour. If you can eat grains you may wish to purchase Gluten Free Oat Matzoh. This is the matzo I buy for my older son who has celiac disease. He is 100% gluten-free, and can tolerate some grains so this is a great option for him. When I went grain-free in 2001 I gave up all matzo except my homemade matzo made with almond flour.

My favorite Passover ingredients will help you get through your gluten-free Seder with less stress than ever.

What will you be making for your Seder? Are you gluten-free? Are you grain-free too? Leave a comment below and let us know. Chag Sameach!

]]>http://elanaspantry.com/favorite-passover-ingredients/feed/1210 Great Snack Recipes for Picky Eatershttp://elanaspantry.com/10-great-snack-recipes-for-picky-eaters/
http://elanaspantry.com/10-great-snack-recipes-for-picky-eaters/#commentsThu, 27 Mar 2014 16:51:08 +0000http://www.elanaspantry.com/?p=49653A movie star recently contacted me to ask what to feed her picky two year old. And that's how this list of 10 Great Snack Recipes for Picky Eaters was born.

In order to compile this list of healthy, gluten-free snack recipes, I combed through the hundreds of grain-free recipes on Elana's Pantry. It was like a walk down memory lane, recalling all of the great snacks that my boys liked to eat when they were wee little ones. They still love all of the gluten-free snack recipes below, and now they're teenagers! I guess that just shows how timeless and classic these snacks are --or, how constantly hungry my children and their friends are day-in-and-day-out.

A movie star recently contacted me to ask what to feed her picky two year old. And that’s how this list of 10 Great Snack Recipes for Picky Eaters was born.

In order to compile this list of healthy, gluten-free snack recipes, I combed through the hundreds of grain-free recipes on Elana’s Pantry. It was like a walk down memory lane, recalling all of the great snacks that my boys liked to eat when they were wee little ones. They still love all of the gluten-free snack recipes below, and now they’re teenagers! I guess that just shows how timeless and classic these snacks are –or, how constantly hungry my children and their friends are day-in-and-day-out.

All of the snack recipes above are both gluten-free and grain-free. For those of you dealing with additional allergies, many are nut-free and egg-free as well. Looking for a gluten-free, grain-free, egg-free cracker recipe for your family? Try my crunchy, egg-free Multi-“Grain” Crackers.

These healthy snack recipes are perfect for everyone from toddlers to teenagers whether they are hungry between meals, or looking for a delightful after school snack to recharge their batteries.

]]>http://elanaspantry.com/10-great-snack-recipes-for-picky-eaters/feed/910 Great Almond Flour Recipeshttp://elanaspantry.com/10-great-almond-flour-recipes/
http://elanaspantry.com/10-great-almond-flour-recipes/#commentsFri, 13 Sep 2013 22:00:19 +0000http://www.elanaspantry.com/?p=47804Delicious low carb almond flour is a super food, far more nutritious than most other flours you can find. I love almond flour. You may have guessed as much given that I wrote an entire book of almond flour recipes called The Gluten Free Almond Flour Cookbook. Why is almond flour one of my favoriteRead More →

Delicious low carb almond flour is a super food, far more nutritious than most other flours you can find.

I love almond flour. You may have guessed as much given that I wrote an entire book of almond flour recipes called The Gluten Free Almond Flour Cookbook. Why is almond flour one of my favorite super foods? Because it’s high in protein and good fats, easy to use, and most important of all, it tastes delicious.

Of course, for many people, almond flour may not be the right choice. We all have to decide what our dietary priorities are and then eat what is best for our own bodies.

Almond flour is an optimal choice for my family because it’s far more nutritious than typical starchy gluten-free flours such as rice, corn, potato and tapioca. It’s also a great choice for us because it has less carbohydrates, and more protein than wheat flour itself, as you can see in the table below.

Nutrition Info (100g)

Protein

Carbohydrates

Glycemic Index

Fiber

Almond Flour

21.94 g

19.44 g

< 1

10.4 g

White Wheat Flour

9.71 g

76.22 g

71

2.4 g

Rice Flour

5.95 g

80.13 g

98

2.4 g

While almond flour works well for my family, I do understand that it doesn’t work for everyone. First of all, many people are allergic to nuts. Further, some people simply may not find almond flour the optimal choice for themselves and their loved ones. That’s why I have numerous coconut flour recipes on this website. Of course, some folks can’t eat my coconut flour recipes if they are unable to consume eggs (my recipes that utilize coconut flour generally require a number of eggs).

You get the idea, there may not be one specific food that fits everyone’s nutrition and dietary needs. For those of you that love almond flour as much as I do, here are 10 great almond flour recipes!

I consider my readers to be my extended family. Because of this philosophy, I write a variety recipes that are tailored not only to my own dietary needs, but to yours as well. That’s why my latest book, Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry, is gluten-free, grain-free, as well as dairy-free and nightshade free –in order to make all of the recipes more accessible to all of you.